“We want to help people stop becoming victims of [identity theft],” said Sergeant Raymond Morales, from the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau. “It’s important that [the documents] get destroyed properly. This is a first major step on helping prevent [identity theft].”

During the event, people were able to bring in documents with personal information, dump them into two large garbage bins and watch them be destroyed inside the Lion Cage Shredding truck.

“You have to be proactive in taking steps to protect yourself,” said Sergeant Morales.

Participants were also able to bring in their computer hard drives and watch them be destroyed, as a hole was punctured into the hard drive. People were also able to have their electronic devices registered with the NYPD Operations ID Program and sign up to receive a certificate from Lion Cage confirming the destruction of all personal information from Sunday’s event.

“I just think it’s great to do this for the community,” said Regina Pluchinotta, from Ozone Park, who brought in bags of documents to be shredded and watched as her hard drive was destroyed. “You try to be precautious and safe about it all.”

Elmhurst resident Fabian Alsultany brought in two folding shopping carts filled with documents dating back to 1999 which were taking up room in his house.

“This was a real godsend,” said Alsultany. “This just makes life a lot easier. It’s a great service for the city to offer.”

The NYPD and Lion Cage Shredding will be working together with private companies and property owners in the next 10 months to hold document shredding events throughout the five boroughs. The next stop will be in the Bronx, and later dates and locations are to be determined.

For more information on the document shredding events or any other NYPD events, visit the NYPD Community Affairs Bureau website or text “NYPD” to 22828. To find out more about Lion Cage Shredding, visit its official website or Facebook page.

A representative from the Block Watchers, a citizens’ patrol initiative, informed and trained members of the Woodhaven Residents’ Block Association (WRBA) at the civic group’s February 20 meeting.

There are about 70 registered Block Watchers in the Woodhaven community thanks to the meeting.

Officer Dion Harris, of the NYPD’s Community Affairs Bureau, said the program’s intent is for residents to serve as watchdogs for the police. This includes knowing which situations require a call to 9-1-1, or 3-1-1, observing situations and not getting physically involved in altercations.

Harris also taught residents how to identify a perpetrator or a vehicle to better inform police. Another item was how to identify a street, even if signs were not visible.

“Think about what you saw, that’s what you will report,” he said.

For more info about getting involved in Block Watchers, contact the WRBA at 718-296-3735.